Brooklyn Public Library Invests in Language Access for Immigrant Patrons

Apple Bank Partnership Funds Interpretation Service, Multicultural Programs, Multilingual Resources

Brooklyn, NY—Immigrant patrons at Brooklyn Public Library now have access to free interpretation and greater access to library books and services. Thanks to an ongoing partnership with Apple Bank, BPL became the first library system in New York City to offer free interpretation services via telephone in November 2015. With Language Line now available in all 60 Brooklyn libraries, staff can communicate with patrons in over 100 languages.

Language Line’s telephonic reference and referral service allows speakers of different languages to communicate with the assistance of an interpreter. The service is used by staff in various public agencies, including the dispatchers in New York’s 911 and 311 call centers and hospitals.

“Nearly half of all Brooklynites speak a language other than English at home,” said Eva Raison, Brooklyn Public Library’s coordinator of immigrant services. “Language Line helps our librarians communicate with patrons in the languages spoken by the diverse communities we serve. Language access promotes a welcoming and inclusive environment and enables us to provide life-transforming information resources.”

In the three months since Brooklyn Public Library introduced the Language Line service, librarians at 19 branches have fielded inquiries in 12 different languages. Language Line usage has been most frequent at Central Library, while among the branches, the service has been accessed most often at Cortelyou Library, where librarians assist patrons in Albanian, Bengali, Georgian and Spanish. BPL’s Business & Career Library relies on the service to assist job seekers and to field questions about the PowerUP! Business Plan Contest, which awards startup funding and provides free resources to Brooklyn entrepreneurs. Systemwide, translation has been requested most often in Spanish, Haitian Creole and French.

Language Line is one of several new BPL initiatives funded by Apple Bank, the second-largest state-chartered savings bank in New York State. The bank has provided the financial support for Brooklyn Public Library to host a monthly series of 10 multilingual family cultural programs in branches throughout the borough. Apple Bank also purchased new ESOL materials and citizenship books for BPL’s New Americans Corners, which offer multilingual resources—including naturalization test study aids and information on city, library and legal services—in easily accessible, well-trafficked areas of every public library in New York City.

“We are pleased to partner with the Brooklyn Public Library to bring these vital services to the borough’s growing multilingual community,” said James Matera, Executive Vice President and Head of Apple Bank's Consumer Banking Division. “Enhancing access to the vast resources of BPL will enable newer Americans to acquire the knowledge and skills to succeed in this country in the same way that our parents and grandparents did decades ago.”

Apple Bank has been serving New York City’s neighborhoods and its diverse ethnic groups for over 150 years. Today, Apple Bank has 18 branches in Brooklyn and 53 throughout the city’s five boroughs.  

For more information about Brooklyn Public Library’s many multilingual programs and services, visit bklynlibrary.org/immigrant-services.

Los clientes inmigrantes de la Biblioteca Pública de Brooklyn ahora tienen acceso a servicios de interpretación gratuitos y un mayor acceso a los libros y servicios de la biblioteca. Gracias a la asociación continua con Apple Bank, en noviembre de 2015, la Biblioteca pública de Brooklyn se convirtió en el primer sistema bibliotecario en la Ciudad de Nueva York que ofrece servicios de interpretación por teléfono. Ahora que Language Line está disponible en las 60 bibliotecas de Brooklyn, el personal se puede comunicar con los clientes en más de 100 idiomas.

klienci imigranci Biblioteki Publicznej Brooklyn Public Library mają obecnie dostęp do bezpłatnych usług tłumaczeniowych oraz większy dostęp do książek i usług oferowanych przez bibliotekę. Dzięki stałej współpracy z Apple Bank, BPL to pierwszy system biblioteczny w Nowym Jorku, który oferuje bezpłatne usługi tłumaczeniowe przez telefon od listopada 2015 r. Dzięki linii językowej dostępnej obecnie we wszystkich 60 bibliotekach Brooklynu, personel może komunikować się z klientami w ponad 100 językach.

Les usagers immigrants de la bibliothèque municipale de Brooklyn bénéficient désormais de services d’interprétation gratuits et d’un accès élargi aux livres et services de la bibliothèque. En novembre 2015, grâce au partenariat avec Apple Bank, la bibliothèque municipale de Brooklyn est devenue la première bibliothèque de New York à offrir des services d’interprétation gratuits par téléphone. Language Line étant désormais disponible dans les 60  bibliothèques de Brooklyn, le personnel peut à présent communiquer avec les usagers dans plus de 100 langues.

иммигранты, посещающие Бруклинскую публичную библиотеку (Brooklyn Public Library, BPL), теперь имеют доступ к бесплатным услугам устного перевода и к большему количеству библиотечных книг и услуг. Благодаря успешному сотрудничеству с Apple Bank, в ноябре 2015 года BPL стала первой библиотечной системой в Нью-Йорке, предлагающей бесплатные услуги переводчика по телефону. С помощью языковой линии, доступной теперь во всех 60 библиотеках Бруклина, сотрудники могут общаться с посетителями на более чем 100 языках.

目前布鲁克林公共图书馆的移民访客能获得免费口译服务, 而取得图书馆书籍和相关服务也更为方便。这必须归功于其与苹果银行的持续合作伙伴关系,布鲁克林公共图书馆于2015年11月成为纽约市的第一个提供免费电话口译服务的图书馆系统。目前所有60间布鲁克林图书馆皆提供语言热线(Language Line) 服务,工作人员能以100多种语言与访客沟通

ব্রুকলিন পাবলিক লাইব্রেরির অভিবাসন পৃষ্ঠপোষকদের জন্য বিনামূল্যে দোভাষী সহায়তা এবং লাইব্রেরি ও পরিষেবার সুবিধার ব্যবস্থা করেছে। এর জন্য অ্যাপেল ব্যাঙ্কের সঙ্গে অংশীদারকে ধন্যবাদ, BPL নিউইয়র্ক শহরের প্রথম লাইব্রেরি যারা 2015 সালের নভেম্বর মাসে টেলিফোন মারফত বিনামূল্যের দোভাষী পরিষেবার ব্যবস্থা করেছে। ল্যাঙ্গুয়েজ লাইনের সৌজন্যে 60 টি ব্রুকলিন লাইব্রেরির সবকটিতে কর্মীরা এখন পৃষ্ঠপোষকদের সঙ্গে 100 টিরও বেশী ভাষায় যোগাযোগ করতে পারবেন।

Kliyan Brooklyn Public Library ki se imigran gen aksè kounye a nan sèvis entèprèt gratis ak aksè nan liv ak sèvis bibliyotèk la. Gras ak yon patenarya k ap kontinye avèk Apple Bank, BPL te vin premye sistèm bibliyotèk nan Vil New York ki ofri sèvis entèpretasyon nan telefòn nan mwa novanm 2015. Avèk Language Line ki disponib kounye a nan tout 60 bibliyotèk Brooklyn, ekip la kapab kominike avèk kliyan yo nan plis pase 100 lang.

#    #    #

About Brooklyn Public Library

Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is an independent library system for the 2.5 million residents of Brooklyn. It is the fifth largest library system in the United States with 60 neighborhood libraries located throughout the borough. BPL offers free programs and services for all ages and stages of life, including a large selection of books in more than 30 languages, author talks, literacy programs and public computers. BPL’s eResources, such as eBooks and eVideos, catalog information and free homework help, are available to customers of all ages 24 hours a day at our website: www.bklynlibrary.org.

About Apple Bank

Apple Bank, established in 1863, provides consumer and small business banking services in greater New York through its branch network and online banking service. Apple is the second-largest state chartered savings bank in New York State, with over $12 billion in assets and 79 branches located in the five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, Westchester and Rockland. Visit us at www.applebank.com.